There will be plenty of opportunities to take in some Celtic music, Irish mayhem and green beer this St. Patrick’s Day. Since this March 17 falls on a Tuesday, the celebrations this year are spread out over several days to take advantage of the weekend.
Parksville’s The Clanns will be the first to kick off the festivities. They will host the St. Patrick’s Warm up Party at the French Creek Marine Pub on Friday, March 13. There will no cover charge for the event and music starts at 8 p.m. For more information, call 250-248-3713.
On Saturday, March 14, local band Celtic Chaos will be at the Lighthouse Community Hall in Qualicum Bay to play the Second Annual Kitchen Ceilidh for the Bowser Seniors Housing Society. According to band member Joyce Beaton, dance caller June Cannon from Hornby Island will join Celtic Chaos onstage to lead attendees through some easy dance steps.
The ceilidh is a fundraiser for the Bowser Seniors Housing Society. According to a news release from the organization, the proceeds will help build affordable independent-supportive housing for seniors, behind the library at Magnolia Court.
Aside from plenty of music and dancing, the night will include dinner, a dessert auction, games with great prizes, an open bar and lots of other fun.
Tickets for the ceilidh are $35 and can be purchased by cash or cheque at Salish Sea Market and Georgia Park Store in Bowser and the Mulberry Bush Book Stores in Parksville and Qualicum Beach. To book a table of eight or 10, call 250-757-8117 or e-mail events@bshs.ca. Doors to the event open at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.
The following night (Sunday, March 15), Celtic Chaos will again play tunes you can kick up your heals too at the Rocking Horse Pub in Nanoose. Music starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $15 at the door.
While not taking place locally, March 15 will see Spirit of the West take to the stage in Victoria at Distrikt Night Club. While he doesn’t have the official word, Nanoose Bay drummer and the band’s manager Vince Ditrich said “there won’t be many more shows” for the group given lead vocalist John Mann’s recent diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease.
“The fact of the matter is the shelf life is running out,” Ditrich told The NEWS.
Tickets for the event are $35 and available through ticketzone.com.
The Arrowsmith Golf Course will also host some Irish fun on Sunday, though their event starts quite a bit earlier in the day. The club’s restaurant will serve a St. Patrick’s Day brunch from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
The golf course will also host a festive dinner on Tuesday, March 17 from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. For more information on either meal, call 250-752-9727.
Deez Bar & Grill will get in on the action with their St. Patrick’s Day Party on March 17. Come down for Irish music and sing-a-longs, Irish trivia, green beer, silly hats, games, prizes and more. The party will start at 4 p.m., and don’t forget to wear green to be eligible for door prizes. Irish food specials will also be served at the restaurant throughout the day. For more information, call 250-752-8055
The Royal Canadian Legion, Br. # 49 - Mt. Arrowsmith will host an Irish-themed supper from 5-7 p.m. on St. Paddy’s Day. The menu will include lamb or beef stew with homemade hot biscuits, said the Legion’s Sue Hodges. There will also be dessert, green beer and some sing-along songs to keep the celebrations going, and Hodges said she is trying to get the bar staff to offer some “fancy green bar drinks” that night. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or in advance at the Legion’s lounge. Everyone is invited. For more information, call 250-248-6842.
That same night, Celtic Chaos’ will play their third and final St. Patrick’s Day show of the year: an intimate acoustic concert at Cafe Brie in Qualicum Beach. The group played a similar sold-out show at the cafe last year. Tickets to next Tuesday’s event, which starts at 7 p.m., are $15 and are available at the door or through Celtic Chaos at 250-752-1162.
Finally, the Foggy Hogtown Boys will bring their bluegrass and roots music to the Nanoose Library Hall on March 17 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are available at lindabanjo@hotmail.com or 250-240-8888.